Kim Soo-hyun’s camp has decided to respond to allegations of him dating the late Kim Sae-ron while she was underage by releasing diary entries allegedly written by him to his real girlfriend during his military days.
On 30 September, Kim Soo-hyun’s lawyer Ko Sang-rok explained the background behind the partial disclosure of evidence, stating, “In response to the long-standing false accusations made by Garoseoro Research Institute, we are restoring the actor’s reputation and correcting the distortions of facts. All information has been compiled and released after rigorous verification and objective factual confirmation.”
From his enlistment in October 2017 to his discharge in July 2019, Kim Soo-hyun reportedly wrote about 150 letters in the form of a diary to express his longing and apology to his girlfriend of three years, review the memories of the past three years, and express his plans for the future.
The lawyer pointed out that, given his status as an artiste, these letters were not mailed. Instead, Kim Soo-hyun personally handed them to his girlfriend during his vacation, and they interacted through replies.
In his diary entry dated April 6, 2018, he mentioned the “long-standing pain of not being able to write my lover’s real name.” The lawyer emphasised that Kim Sae-ron was not his girlfriend, and that their relationship was completely different.
Attorney Ko added, “As a well-known entertainer, Kim Soo-hyun had to adapt to the attention from those around him. In this process, he gained a sense of identity, comfort, and gratitude from interacting with fellow entertainers and seniors. Whenever he had free time, he would write letters to friends who were out and about, sharing his experiences with military life and his determination to return to acting after his discharge, thereby reaffirming his own identity as an actor. The letters to the late Kim Sae-ron were part of this natural exchange.”
Kim Soo-hyun’s side pointed out that the entry to his lover on that day contained frank expressions of love, “As expected, I love you, even today!” and “Crazy military life, I want to hear and hug you.” The letter to Kim Sae-ron, however, offered more daily reflections, “Dark clouds gathered outside without me noticing… Fortunately, there were no battle plans today.”
Kim Soo-hyun’s side also stated that the photos Garoseoro Research Institute provided were actually taken between 2019 and 2020, when Kim Sae-ron was already an adult.
Attorney Ko emphasised, “[Garoseoro Research Institute] actions are akin to organised cybercrime and should be investigated and severely punished according to law.”
(Photo Source: Kim Soo-hyun IG, Kim Sae-ron IG)